Immigration showdown looms at forum

Published 1:00 am, Saturday, February 25, 2006

DANBURY - Groups with opposing views on the country's immigration policy are set to square off at Rogers Park Middle School tonight.

U.S. Citizens for Immigration Law Enforcement, a group that has called for illegal immigrants to be deported, is hosting a forum on illegal immigration starting at 7 p.m.
However, members of immigrant civil rights groups are planning to stand outside and protest the event, saying it promotes racism.
Elise Marciano
of Danbury is a founding member of U.S. Citizens for Immigration Law Enforcement. The group holds regular meetings in Danbury, writing letters and circulating petitions meant to pressure Congress to crack down on illegal immigration.
Marciano said the forum is free and open to anyone fed up with the country's failure to keep immigration in check.
"The theme of this is that you have a voice and you can make a difference if you are fed up with the lack of control of the borders," Marciano said.
The forum will feature four speakers, including a retired federal immigration agent and

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Terry Anderson
, a radio talk show host from south-central Los Angeles.
Anderson's appearance has angered some. He has testified before congressional subcommittees, where he said illegal immigrants have "systematically and economically" replaced African-Americans in his neighborhood.
Anderson is African-American.
Peter Goselin
, a Hartford attorney who has been spreading the word to protesters, said Marciano's group is being disingenuous by asking an African-American person to speak.
"This organization is blatantly racist. They clearly view Latino immigrants and Arab and Asian immigrants as subhuman and deserving of no human rights," Goselin said.
Maria-Cinta Lowe
, executive director of the
Hispanic Center of Greater Danbury
, also took issue with Anderson's appearance.
"They are desperate. It seems they are trying to pit African-Americans against Hispanics, which is pretty gross, to put it mildly," Lowe said.
Marciano said pro-immigrant groups throw the racist charge at her group because they can't debate the issue.
Goselin said Saturday's protest will be peaceful and show support for immigrants.
"We are continuing to see these right-wing attacks on immigrants, immigrants' rights, and attempts to scapegoat immigrants for all matters of social problems. Someone has to speak out against this," Goselin said.